[isatrader]

I think I may have been sticking too closely to the output of my database and not looking at the shorter term trends in the chart, noting that the longer breakouts are more significant.

What I have noticed is that if we look at a similar stock you seem to be a day or two ahead. So if I am a 3-5% (or worse) too late then that puts me in a worse position of the stock does not work out or at a significantly worse gain if it proves mediocre. Perhaps I'm putting myself at a disadvantage of several percent due to too high a breakout level and that is compounding resulting in poorer overall results?

I think if you want to trade short term then you have to get in much closer to the ideal entry point or the additional risk that you are taking on will grind down your overall results like you say. Death by a thousand cuts as they say.